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Youth Voice Awards: A Youth-Led Grantmaking Program

Do you or a young person you know have an idea on how to make Brooklyn better for youth?

Keep reading to learn more!

Brooklyn Community Foundation is committed to supporting the leadership and agency of youth in creating community change. YOUTH VOICE AWARDS (YVA) is a youth-led grantmaking program that sees youth as central players in making decisions around supporting youth-centered and youth-led projects. In partnership with nonprofits and supervising adults, Brooklyn youth can apply for small grants to respond to challenges in their neighborhoods or schools.

Youth Voice Awards is about elevating the powerful voices of our youth – youth believe they have the solutions we are looking for and we want to support their work through grants!

OUR JUSTICE PILLARS

YVA will support Brooklyn’s young people working in the following justice pillars. Below are examples to get your creativity going! We believe that these justice pillars intersect and connect with each other, which means your project may fit in one or more of these categories.

GRANTS AWARDED

YOUTH APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

To be eligible to apply, youth applicants must:

Be 14-25 years of age

Have a partnership with a Brooklyn-based nonprofit organization or a school that can serve as your sponsor *If you do not have one, please reach out to us and we can help connect you with a Community Partner to help host your project*

PROJECT SELECTION CRITERIA

Brooklyn Youth Fellows will review and evaluate projects using the following criteria. We will prioritize Brooklyn-based projects that:

Fit into one or more of the justice pillars, outlined above

Position youth as leaders and decision makers in their own lives

Help young people deepen historical and cultural understanding of their experiences and community issues

Have a neighborhood-based and community-driven approach

Promote safe(r) spaces for young people to build, create and MAKE CHANGE!

*Priority consideration will also be given to projects that are led bydirectly affected youth, youth of color, LGBTQ young people, or immigrant youth.

APPLICATION QUESTIONS

Here are the questions asked on the application. Applicants will also be asked to submit a project budget.

ABOUT YOU

Tell us about yourself! (100-200 words)

Why did you want to apply for the Youth Voice Awards? (100-150 words)

What is one dream or hope you have for young people in Brooklyn? (25-75 words)

ABOUT YOUR PROJECT

What is your project about and how will your project help change your community? (200-300 words)

Why is this project personal for you? (100-200 words)

Briefly describe the programs you provide/intend to provide. Be specific to how many people will be involved/how often your program will meet. (200-300 words)

What makes your project unique? (50-150 words)

PROJECT OUTLINE

Give a brief timeline of your project. What will you do first, second, third?

What are some of the challenges you think you will face in making your project happen? Are there specific areas of support/guidance you are looking for?

Fill in the blank: My project is _______________. My project sparks change in Brooklyn by ____________________________________________________________.

PARTNER/ SPONSOR ORGANIZATION INFORMATION Please share the mission of the organization you plan to partner with. What history of working with youth have they demonstrated and what support will you need from them in order to make your project a success? (150-200 words)

BUDGET INFORMATION
Below is a sample budget that you can adjust for your project. We know your expenses are still in process and if selected, we will work with you on your budget. For now, think about the materials and expenses you would absolutely need to make your project happen.